Classes I teach at Caltech

The meaning of Professor derives from "to profess" or "to declare publicly". All too often, in our research-dominated universities, this key function of a professor is neglected. I love to teach and offer the following undergraduate and graduate classes:

Introduction to Computation and Neural Systems (CNS100) This one unit course introduces students to the wide variety of research being undertaken by CNS faculty. Topics from all the CNS research labs are discussed and span the range from biology to engineering. Offered in the fall of 2006.

The Neuronal Basis of Consciousness (CNS/Bi/Psy 120). This nine unit class, taught in the spring of each year, is concerned with the correlates of consciousness in the brain. The course focuses on the anatomy, physiology and psychology of sensory consciousness in the mammalian brain, in particular visual perception. Other topics include coma and other disturbances of consciousness, clinical case studies (e.g., prosopagnosia, neglect), attention, memory, zombie systems, free will and some philosophical questions of interest to the student of consciousness. Offered in the spring of 2006.

Vision: From Computational Theory to Neuronal Mechanisms (CNS/Bi/EE 186). This twelve unit class is aimed at understanding visual information processing, in both machines and the mammalian visual system. The course emphasizes vision at several levels: computational theory, algorithms, psychophysics and the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the mammalian visual system. The focus is on early vision processes: motion analysis, binocular stereo, brightness, color and texture analysis and boundary detection. Students are required to complete one project (mathematical analysis, computer modeling, or psychophysics). Offered in the winter term of 2005/06, this class is co-taught with Profs. Shimojo and Perona.